Thinking about unloading my 46BH from my 2520 - Page 2 - Machine Underground -Tractor & Commercial Equipment Discussion Forum

JoeSwede · 08-17-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducati996

About 2 years got it with the 2520 - no complaints, works well and recommend to those who have a 2320, 2520, 2720

I'm seriously thinking/wanting a backhoe for my planned 2720. But here is food for thought... I'm sure it would be great fun and come in very handy for taking out small and medium sized stumps, digging holes for planting trees etc.

But the monetary value of owning a Back hoe is questionable, as is the tractor itself (even though I have a 300 acre forest, 20 acre open land and 4 acre park land).

Duc you seem to love your BH, so much that you've bought a heftier one. But only 40h in two years on the original one...(6000 usd - 4300 usd)/40h= 42,5usd/h

For that kind of money I can have a guy come over with his 6 ton rig (12000 lbs)...(even in my high cost country of Sweden)... 20h a year, that's 2 to 3 days including the guy. Or rent a 2ton rig 3 weekends a year.

Still interested though. In Sweden a backhoe for a 2720 is 9000 usd...

Duc, what will you be able to do with the new tlb that you couldn't but wanted to do with the old one? Is it just "bigger is better" or are there concrete tasks?

JoeSwede · 08-17-2008, 11:56 AM

My main use for a backhoe would be removing small stumps and digging holes for planting trees etc. Probably not for digging trenches etc.

Is there a cheaper way to do those tasks? A digging attachment for the FEL perhaps? I saw something like that for a skidsteer.

Look at the first link.
Grvarm 120
For a video press "Titta på video" link

It can dig 120cm deep (4 feet).

This Backhoe is actually the one sold by Swedish JD dealers. The JD backhoe for 2720 is not certified for sale in Europe.
Grvaggregat 150

The price in Sweden for the digging arm is about 2500 usd and the proper back hoe (same as the one sold for 2720 in Sweden) is 9000 usd. So if the digging arm was to be found in USA in ought to be quite cheap/good value.

tomwilli · 08-17-2008, 04:18 PM

Hi,

Well, as an alternative there is this " Quick Spade "

That is available in the U.S. and may be similar to what you are referrring to. The also mention the 1 for skid steers.

I was curious about them myself and sent them an email but they didn't bother to respond. Really wanted to know price.

I figured it may be a much cheaper alternative to a back hoe for planting trees and other litte stuff.

Maybe will contact them again and see if I can get a price.

Very frustrating when dealers don't answer.

Anyways, good luck and have a good one.

Tom

Dougster · 08-17-2008, 05:03 PM

Duc is apparently off watching more "Women's Beach Volleyball"

so once again I'll throw in my two cents worth. It's actually the same two cents worth I have thrown in many times before in regard to digging machines:

1) There is no substitute for buying the biggest, baddest and best backhoe available for your particular tractor.

2) Beware of devices made principally for skid steer loaders. More often than not, they will be too heavy for your tractor's FEL *or* they will not work right due to lack of tractor weight (and/or hydraulic pressure/flow) *or* BOTH! In such cases always try before you buy!!!

3) As silly as certain "innovative" and "cost saving" digging tools look in the ads and videos, they are gonna look and feel 10 times as silly when you try to actually use one yourself.

4) Within the hard and unfortunate bounds of money, transport, storage and access to your jobsite... bigger is virtually always better.

I know of only one case where a person traded down in size and claimed he was better off for it. He later checked into rehab and is doing much better these days.

Dougster™

**irwin** · 08-17-2008, 07:10 PM

I'll add something regarding the cost-worth aspect of backhoe ownership.

Think toy that will be worth good money 10 years later. Many guys own $50,00.00 boats that see open water two to four times a year. Ten years later try and sell that boat for 75% of what it cost new.

A backhoe is a very useful toy. Anytime I want to I can dig a trench, pop out some rocks, or dig up a stump. To me that's worth a lot.

**Ducati996** · 08-17-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeSwede

I'm seriously thinking/wanting a backhoe for my planned 2720. But here is food for thought... I'm sure it would be great fun and come in very handy for taking out small and medium sized stumps, digging holes for planting trees etc.

But the monetary value of owning a Back hoe is questionable, as is the tractor itself (even though I have a 300 acre forest, 20 acre open land and 4 acre park land).

Duc you seem to love your BH, so much that you've bought a heftier one. But only 40h in two years on the original one...(6000 usd - 4300 usd)/40h= 42,5usd/h

For that kind of money I can have a guy come over with his 6 ton rig (12000 lbs)...(even in my high cost country of Sweden)... 20h a year, that's 2 to 3 days including the guy. Or rent a 2ton rig 3 weekends a year.

Still interested though. In Sweden a backhoe for a 2720 is 9000 usd...

Duc, what will you be able to do with the new tlb that you couldn't but wanted to do with the old one? Is it just "bigger is better" or are there concrete tasks?

All good points Joe so I need to add some additional info that may shed some light as to why and what I did - I guessed that the 46BH has 25 hrs on. This is just FEL or PTO work and the 25 hrs seems about right for the work I needed it for. I do commercial work part time and for a while I had to rent what I needed -typically a Bob cat S250 and once in a while a mini-ex. The 2520 would be used where i could - especially in low impact jobs, like dirt and mulch. I also see it still doing that because I can get in small places with it.
The backhoe for me worked out well but it had some drawbacks because I needed something with a longer reach, bigger depth and more power to be really handy for when the time came. As good as the 46BH is, its not at this level as to what I needed. But it makes great ballast

The funny thing about Deere hours on these compacts - my older 4100 (same physical size as todays 2320/2520 series), they have the hour meter pro rated to to full PTO speed. What this means is if you are doing FEL work all day at 1500-1800 RPM, you dont log in a 1 to 1 ratio (hours running= Hours logged on meter). My 2520 is pretty much the same way - I do a ton of FEL stuff with it, the meter barely moves.

Kubota seems to be a direct 1 to 1. Looks to be that way, as soon as you fire it up.

So I guess its why the hours seem to be lower than what you might expect - I also dont mow with any of these machines

Hope this helps

**Ducati996** · 08-17-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irwin

Whatcha decided Duc?

Can't think you'd have any trouble selling it. From what I've read, lots of 2520 owners wanting a backhoe. Might get someone to part with $4,500.00 if the used tractor attachment gods are on your side.

Im probably going to hang on to it - it might just come in handy when I cant get my L39 in areas I need to - I need 61" with the 2520, and now 72" with the L39. It makes a difference, plus its a great ballast

I made some short work (still a few hours plus) removing some oak stumps some 24" plus. Got more to go but wouldnt even consider it with the 2520 and 46BH - just would have been too hard on the machine.

**Kennyd** · 08-17-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

The funny thing about Deere hours on these compacts - my older 4100 (same physical size as todays 2320/2520 series), they have the hour meter pro rated to to full PTO speed. What this means is if you are doing FEL work all day at 1500-1800 RPM, you dont log in a 1 to 1 ratio (hours running= Hours logged on meter). My 2520 is pretty much the same way - I do a ton of FEL stuff with it, the meter barely moves.

Kubota seems to be a direct 1 to 1. Looks to be that way, as soon as you fire it up.

So I guess its why the hours seem to be lower than what you might expect - I also dont mow with any of these machines

Yeah, there are quite a few "OH **IT, I LEFT MY KEY ON, AND NOW I HAVE 100 MORE HOURS ON THE CLOCK" post's on the "other site" in the Kubota forum.

**Ducati996** · 08-17-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kennyd

Yeah, there are quite a few "OH **IT, I LEFT MY KEY ON, AND NOW I HAVE 100 MORE HOURS ON THE CLOCK" post's on the "other site" in the Kubota forum.

Yeah it should never be that way - machine should always be on, then the meter moves, not just the ignition switch - I got kids and its the first thing they go for -turn the key when Daddy aint looking

JoeSwede · 08-18-2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomwilli

Hi,

Well, as an alternative there is this " Quick Spade "

That is available in the U.S. and may be similar to what you are referrring to. The also mention the 1 for skid steers.

I was curious about them myself and sent them an email but they didn't bother to respond. Really wanted to know price.

I figured it may be a much cheaper alternative to a back hoe for planting trees and other litte stuff.

Maybe will contact them again and see if I can get a price.

Very frustrating when dealers don't answer.

Anyways, good luck and have a good one.

Tom

The Quick spade looks like a joke compared to the digger attachement for the skid steer I was thinking about. Look at the video. The quick digger could be an alternative if it is very cheap.